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Area: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Vet Fund : $80 at the moment but it's down due to 2 recent losses
Number of Hamsters: 3
Previous Costs: Cheeto had operations on each of her front paws for tumors which probably cost around $600 after the initial ops, follow-ups, and meds (Definitely wasn't fully prepared for that!)
Small animal Consultation : $70 and up
Follow up consultation: $30 and up, free if after a "major" operation
Antibiotics : $10 to $50
Emergency Care: $150 just to walk through the door, meds $30 and up
Private Cremation (Ashes Returned): $80
Cremation (Ashes Not Returned): $20
Nail Clipping: $10 to $15

United Kingdom: I'm retired so I can use the PDSA although I've never had occasion to use it yet. Pets must be pre-registered to use it. Just go to a Vet offering PDSA service and ask for a form, fill it out and take it back to the vet and your pet is registered. The PDSA service is free but there is a compulsory donation required.

I live in two parts of Ontario, so I thought I'd do both as they are quite different

The main difference for hamster owners in Southern Ontario is that you will pay more but you will have more ready access to specialized vets.

You would be so surprised. I had a problem with a rabbit and got laughed at by one vet... and 3 others had no idea who saw small animals in my area. Closest one was about a half hour away and wanted $245.00 just to see her. I was so offended. waited til the next morning as it was not an emergency and I called the spca and a few small animal rescues to see who they use. Ended up finding one they both recommended but by the time I left his office I was well over $300.00...

St. Albans, Hertfordshire
Fund: I put £1/£2 coins in a piggy bank so always have £20-30 in there. Any more I need comes from my bank account.
Hamsters: 4 plus 1 foster
Previous costs:

Consultation and 7 day course of Baytril has cost from £15 - £24
Metacam and other antibiotics - £13
Consultation, gas and 4 week course of Baytril - £26 (very pleased with my new vet!)
Consultation (free), gas and removal of an ear wart - £44
Consultation - £15 (was not happy about this as nothing was said or done)

I used to use CJ Hall in Sheen but recently moved. For anyone in the Hertfordshire area, I'd recommend Nine Lives Vetinary centre in Redbourn. They've been wonderful with my hamsters and are reasonably priced

I ended up not being charged anything and the visit was done Pro Bono when I mentioned that JJ was a classroom pet. All the vet asked for was a letter from my principal for verification. I was very surprised and grateful. Those are what the charges would've been otherwise. I still have $ put aside and will not rely on the pro bono for future visits.

Well I have just posted earlier about Daisy Mazy who I have had for 8 weeks and got her foot trapped in the door. I receive family tax credit because I am on my own with my son and can only work part-time due to chronic illness. I have a medical exemption card which means that the state feel that I do not earn enough to pay for my prescription. How ever I have just had to pay £125 for Daisy to have her back foot amputated because the PDSA would not help because I was not unemployed. I do not think this is a fair system. There should be a means test, I was happy to give a big donation and would have given £50-£60, even though this is still a lot for me. The thing is I could have got a friend on benefit to bring her in and say it was his, which I am sure some people do but I wouldn't.

Daisy cost me £10 but the money you pay out in terms of a good cage and health care are massive. I am not sure we would have got her if I had realised just how much she would cost but we are so attaché now that I could not let her go when the vet put that to me yesterday.